Box Score (PDF)

* Freshman AJ Wilson led Mason with his first career double-double (13 pts, 10 reb)
* Sophomore Justin Kier added 12 points and five rebounds
* Mason returns to action Sunday vs. Penn State (4 p.m.) inside EagleBank Arena
 
FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason University men's basketball team (5-6) dropped a 74-51 contest to Georgia Southern (8-2) on Tuesday night inside EagleBank Arena.
 
Freshman AJ Wilson led the Patriots with his first career double-double, posting 13 points and 10 rebounds in a career-best 26 minutes. The Laurel, Md., product also tallied three blocks on the night.
 
Sophomore Justin Kier posted 10+ points for the second-straight game. The Grottoes, Va., native added 12 points and five rebounds in 32 minutes.
 
The Patriots were victimized by a poor shooting night and a first half in which the team committed 14 turnovers. Mason shot a season-low 28.6 percent (16-56) from the floor, while Georgia Southern put together a solid 45.2 percent clip.
 
The Eagles – who entered the game sporting a top-50 RPI - also held a +18 (38-20) edge in points in the paint for the game and had four players score in double figures in the victory.
 
"I have to give credit to Georgia Southern, but the focus is on us," head coach Dave Paulsen said. "Our guys' response after getting knocked to the mats will determine everything about us as a team and as individuals. We didn't execute or play with discipline tonight. This group works very hard and is very coachable. I'm confident we're going to bounce back."
 
The two teams combined for 13 turnovers in the first seven minutes as Georgia Southern jumped out to a 14-6 lead at the 12-minute mark of the first half. The Eagles then hit four out of five shots during a hot stretch that allowed the visitors to extend their edge to 13 (25-12).
 
From there, Mason began to generate offense with both Otis Livingston II and Jaire Grayer on the bench. Five straight points from AJ Wilson fueled a 9-0 run that cut the lead to four (25-21), but the Eagles scored 11 of the final 15 points of the half to take a 36-25 advantage into the break.
 
The Patriots had some good looks to begin the second half but could not convert, starting 0-of-8 while the Eagles built a 44-27 edge at the 16:27 mark of the stanza. Georgia Southern led by 22 (57-35) and Mason could not move closer than 18 for the remainder of the game.
 
Mason remains at home to battle Big Ten foe Penn State in a marquee non-conference matchup on Sunday. The 4 p.m. contest will be televised on Stadium. It is available on Verizon Fios Channel 820 in Washington, D.C. as well as WUTB-3 and Verizon Fios Channel 820 in the Baltimore area.

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